Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Last night I saw on the little crawl at the bottom of the screen on CNN that Pimp C's death was ruled both "accidental" and "as a result of codeine cough syrup and sleep apnea". Now, I understand the LA Times and the BBC writing about it with a bit of befuddled clinicality, but the news will probably go over everyone's head if they miss Kristie Rieken's article in the chron today.

"The abuse of codeine-laced cough syrup is so prevalent in Houston that the city has been nicknamed"The City of Syrup" and Pimp C often rapped about using the drug recreationally..."

[The doctor] also said people who are obese are at increased risk for sleep apnea. Pimp C was 5 feet 11 inches tall and 261 pounds..."

"Houston has dealt with an epidemic of the illegal use of cough syrup for several years.In 2006, four local pharmacists were found guilty of drug conspiracyfor selling more than 2,500 gallons of it to people without prescriptions.

DJ Screw, who popularized Houston's slowed-down hypnotic style of rap,died of a heart attack in 2000 after a reported overdoseof codeine-laced cough syrup. Rapper Big Moe, who rapped obsessively about the drug,died in October of a heart attack.

Though the glamorization of the drug has been a staple in rap throughout the Southfor years, some in the area were growing tired of its influence.

"I know I'm running the risk of sounding 'preachy' ...but I'm starting to hate everything that 'syrup' stands for,"Houston rapper Chamillionaire said in a blog attributed to him in October."

Habitual syrup sippin' will not only get you hooked on the stuff, but unlike heroin it tends to make you gain weight,which causes sleep apnea. No way out of that one. RIP PIMP C RIP FAT PAT RIP RIP BIG MOE RIP DJ SCREW

Check out this doc from VBS featuring video from DJ Screw's last days.